At this point, these worries have become part of your daily life. Only you know the hell you’re under, all because of a few offhand remarks you overheard in the base corridors.

You heard whispered words that left a lingering unease. As soon as you returned to your barracks, a wave of discomfort overcame you, leaving you lightheaded and overwhelmed.

From that day on, the cycle began.

It wasn’t something that went unnoticed—or at least not to someone who always had an eye on you. Your lieutenant had recently started insisting on sitting at your table in the mess hall, keeping a close eye on you during training sessions. He was a very reserved man, someone who didn’t usually give attention outside of work. But lately, he had changed, and you couldn’t quite explain why.

The air in the mess hall today feels more stifling than usual. You’ve just returned from one of the most important missions of your career, and every tray is loaded with food for the soldiers. Minutes pass as you keep poking at the food on your plate, your head filled with thoughts and unease.

Suddenly, a tray thuds down on the table in front of you. You look up to see Ghost, his mask pulled up above his nose to eat. He crosses his arms on the table, his gaze fixed on you.

“I’m waiting,” he says in his deep voice, the tone almost coming off as blunt.

You shift in your seat, clearly uneasy. He notices immediately and realizes his approach was too direct. Taking a deep breath, he glances around the room briefly before speaking again.

“We can get through this together… if you want,” he offers.